Journey: Postcard from Cottonwood, Arizona

Overlook Sedona, which in recent times has turn into brazenly hostile to vacationers, and as a substitute plan a visit to close by Cottonwood.

The once-sleepy city with its inhabitants of 12,029 souls has turn into a vacation spot in its personal proper, because of Arizona’s rising wine trade.

That is most evident in Cottonwood’s downtown, the place a substantial variety of storefronts within the Historic Previous City — listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations as examples of economic structure from the primary half of the twentieth century — have been transformed into wine tasting rooms.

Inside the rapid surrounding space are 19 vineyards and 136 acres beneath vine within the Verde Valley appellation, which since late 2021 has been designated as an official American viticultural space.

A few of the closest vineyards are Alcantara Vineyards and Web page Springs Cellars in Cornville, the place the late John McCain lived. A full map and accompanying Verde Valley wine passport may be picked up on the vacationer workplace on Essential Avenue, subsequent to Cottonwood Metropolis Corridor.

Wines embrace these made out of universally recognized chardonnay grape, but in addition considerably lesser-known varietals that simply occur to thrive in Arizona’s local weather. Suppose Rhone-inspired blends of grenache, syrah, and mourvedre; the Spanish mainstay tempranillo; and even orange wine from malvasia bianca.

Guests shouldn’t overlook the area people school, Yavapai Faculty. The varsity’s Southwest Wine Heart isn’t only a place for college students to be taught winemaking and land jobs within the trade. Oenophiles are welcome to go to the 13-acre winery and pattern wines from the middle’s personal label.

In case you go

Take into account reserving a room on the retro Iron Horse Inn. The up to date Thirties-era motor courtroom resort — therefore the identify motel –– is clear, snug and situated proper in downtown Cottonwood. Guests preferring a series resort will need to keep at Marriott’s Springhill Suites.

Eat downtown at Nic’s Italian Steak & Crab Home or Pizzeria Bocce Patio Bar. One other excellent selection is Up the Creek by Web page Springs Cellars, the place the significantly high-quality wine listing consists of round 180 alternatives.

Verde Adventures gives an roughly two-hour, self-guided kayak tour of the Verde River that begins and finishes at Alcantara Vineyards, the place a tasting is included in the associated fee. At Alcantara, guests will discover 17 grape varietals among the many 20,000 vines.

Cottonwood is 2 hours by automotive from Phoenix, Arizona’s largest metropolis. Flying out and in of Las Vegas (nearly 5 hours away) is an alternative choice, relying on components like airfare, flight instances and rental automotive charges.

Dennis Lennox writes a journey column for The Christian Publish.

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